| Posted By |
Message |
EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
|
Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I do laundry daily, but a lot of my towels and washclothes have this nasty sour smell to them. Any ideas to get rid of it? I tried vinegar in the washing machine and that didn't work. Maybe I didn't use enough? (about 2 caps full). TIA 
|
Posted 9/28/08 3:05 PM  |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate |
june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I have the SAME PROBLEM! I've used fabric softener detergent with fabric softener and fabric softener Ive washed the machine with bleach (nothing inside) and nothing works. 
It's embarrasing when people come over 
|
| Posted 9/28/08 3:16 PM |
| |
|
mathteach
Roll Tide!
Member since 8/08 3169 total posts
Name:
Christine
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
1. Are they sitting in the hamper too long before washing?
2. Try running a soak cycle first. That smell is really resilient.
3.The smell more than likely is coming from them being crammed into a dark hamper while still wet. Either try to wash them more often OR allow them to dry BEFORE putting them into the hamper.
That's my guess anyway, it seems to have been my problem.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 3:38 PM |
| |
|
betty
My boys
Member since 5/05 4380 total posts
Name:
Beth
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
VINEGAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds gross but it really works. OUr towels used to get a gross smell after using them 1x and now they don't smell at all!!!!!!!!! I put about a cup in with the towels and the detergent. Then I also use fabric softener. Also try not to let them sit in the washer for too long.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 3:52 PM |
| |
|
EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I usually hang them up to dry and the washcloths I hang on the bathtub faucet so they don't sit all wet in the hamper. I don't think I was using enough vinegar, I'm going to try a cup full this time.
Also, I always wash them on hot, but I think I read somewhere that hot makes them smell more? Is that true?
|
| Posted 9/28/08 3:59 PM |
| |
|
christys0925
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/07 512 total posts
Name:
Christy
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I use vinegar in evrything I wash. But I put a cup or 2 in. If you put less it does not work.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 5:11 PM |
| |
|
Nicole728
My Happy Girl
Member since 7/06 8198 total posts
Name:
Me
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
You might want to try putting some borax in your laundry too, that might help.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 5:58 PM |
| |
|
SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
are you letting them sit too long wet in the washing machine after the cycyle ends?
eta: or maybe like someone else said, you're putting them in the hamper while still wet or damp.
this is the reason why I only put towels in the hamper when they're bone dry - in the AM before my shower.
Message edited 9/28/2008 6:03:46 PM.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 6:01 PM |
| |
|
yanksgrl
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 186 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
My guess would either be sitting in a hamper to long, or the washer. The last time that happened to me I threw in some oxy clean, and used Dreft, lol
|
| Posted 9/28/08 9:33 PM |
| |
|
DRMom
Two in Blue
Member since 5/05 20223 total posts
Name:
Melissa
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
You could try baking soda too. Do you have a front loader-if so they have a tendency to hold funk-I think you need to use special detergent?
|
| Posted 9/28/08 10:22 PM |
| |
|
sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
sounds like a hard water problem. borax is an all natural inexpensive fix.
|
| Posted 9/28/08 10:30 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
BORAX
and it is so cheap
|
| Posted 9/29/08 8:56 AM |
| |
|
EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by melijane
You could try baking soda too. Do you have a front loader-if so they have a tendency to hold funk-I think you need to use special detergent?
I have a top loader.
I also don't have hard water. Plus nothing else smells, just towels and washcloths.
I'm going to BJ's and stocking up on vinegar
|
| Posted 9/29/08 8:57 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I had this problem recently. I actually threw out 3 washcloths because of it. I threw the towels in (on very hot as usual) with a cup of vinegar. I DID NOT use fabric softener as they say not to with towels. It not only will diminish their ability to dry but it will trap odors inside the towel. I threw them in the dryer with nothing and they came out soft and SOO fresh smelling! Haven't had a problem since!
I have a front loader if that makes any difference. HTH!
|
| Posted 9/29/08 12:41 PM |
| |
|
MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by KellyFG
sounds like a hard water problem. borax is an all natural inexpensive fix.
YES!!!! I swear by this stuff!!!! We have really hard water in NC, and this is the ONLY stuff that makes the towels and washcloths come out smelling brand new!
I wish I could buy shares in the company 
|
| Posted 9/29/08 1:18 PM |
| |
|
csorisi
My 2 LOVES
Member since 11/05 1984 total posts
Name:
Corinne
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by Nicole728
You might want to try putting some borax in your laundry too, that might help.
I had the same problem and used borax and it works wonders I no longer have the problem. Also if you have front loaders you should leave teh door to the washign machine open after you are finished washing so your machine doesn't have the smell.
|
| Posted 9/29/08 2:13 PM |
| |
|
june262004
But I love the Snow!
Member since 5/05 15379 total posts
Name:
Kristin
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
So I tried the vinegar and I think it did the trick!
|
| Posted 9/29/08 10:12 PM |
| |
|
MelToddJulia
Love my Family!
Member since 7/05 29064 total posts
Name:
Mel
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
BLEACH!! We just had the same problem, and it was only with our towels, the bleach took the smell away!
|
| Posted 9/29/08 11:25 PM |
| |
|
Kotka
Mom to two boys :)
Member since 5/05 3384 total posts
Name:
Jola
(pronounced Yola)
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
I wash my towels on warm/cold and on 2nd rinse and I make sure I put them on the longest time period my dryer goes... I know my towels get smelly if I leave them in the was too long or if they don't dry all the way in the dryer..
|
| Posted 9/30/08 9:23 AM |
| |
|
Kotka
Mom to two boys :)
Member since 5/05 3384 total posts
Name:
Jola
(pronounced Yola)
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by MamaNDaddyof3
BORAX
and it is so cheap
never heard of this, where can you buy it - anywhere they sell detergents?
|
| Posted 9/30/08 9:24 AM |
| |
|
EmmaNick
*
Member since 12/06 16001 total posts
Name:
*
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by MelToddJulia
BLEACH!! We just had the same problem, and it was only with our towels, the bleach took the smell away!
I don't think that would work for me since our towels are different colors
|
| Posted 9/30/08 9:41 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by Kotka
Posted by MamaNDaddyof3
BORAX
and it is so cheap
never heard of this, where can you buy it - anywhere they sell detergents?
I get it at Walmart and Target ...I think the box costs like $1.50 and you put it in the wash with your regular detergent
|
| Posted 9/30/08 10:12 AM |
| |
|
Kotka
Mom to two boys :)
Member since 5/05 3384 total posts
Name:
Jola
(pronounced Yola)
|
Re: Yucky Smelling Towels & Wash Cloths?
Posted by MamaNDaddyof3
Posted by Kotka
Posted by MamaNDaddyof3
BORAX
and it is so cheap
never heard of this, where can you buy it - anywhere they sell detergents?
I get it at Walmart and Target ...I think the box costs like $1.50 and you put it in the wash with your regular detergent
thanks, so its in the same aisle as the detergents just to make sure, sorry
|
| Posted 9/30/08 11:31 AM |
| |
|
